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Individual membership: This membership is open to nationals of the countries of the region with an interest in the mangroves and associated ecosystems research, conservation and management, and who is fulfilling the conditions under this Constitution.
Institutional membership: It is open to any institution, company, agency, corporation or organization in the region involved in activities furthering the aims of the Network and whose objectives are not in conflict with the aims of the Network.
Fellow membership: It is a membership to be awarded biennially to scientists by the Network in recognition of their outstanding work or significant contribution to research, conservation and management of mangroves in the region.
Associate membership: It is open to individuals outside the region with an interest in mangroves and associated ecosystems research, conservation and management.
Honorary membership: This is a membership conferred biennially upon individuals who have rendered outstanding contribution to the conservation, management and sustainable development of mangroves in the region.
Corporate membership: This membership is open to any company, agency, corporation or other business which is committed towards promoting the aims of the Network.
Student membership: This membership is open to individuals who are nationals of any of the member states of the region with active registration as students at any academic institution.
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Founder of the Comoros National Herbarium and co-founder of the Geomatics Environment Biodiversity consultancy. National consultant and member of the Ecosystemic Accounting of Natural Capital (ENCA) Comoros team. National consultant on the delimitation of terrestrial protected areas. Promoter of the activity “I do my own vegetable garden ” and ‘’urban reforestation’’ in Comoros. Author of the floristic inventory, the vegetation mapping in Ngazidja Island and the study of mangroves in Comoros archipelago.
Founder of the Comoros National Herbarium and co-founder of the Geomatics Environment Biodiversity consultancy. National consultant and member of the Ecosystemic Accounting of Natural Capital (ENCA) Comoros team. National consultant on the delimitation of terrestrial protected areas. Promoter of the activity “I do my own vegetable garden ” and ‘’urban reforestation’’ in Comoros. Author of the floristic inventory, the vegetation mapping in Ngazidja Island and the study of mangroves in Comoros archipelago.
Founder of the Comoros National Herbarium and co-founder of the Geomatics Environment Biodiversity consultancy. National consultant and member of the Ecosystemic Accounting of Natural Capital (ENCA) Comoros team. National consultant on the delimitation of terrestrial protected areas. Promoter of the activity “I do my own vegetable garden ” and ‘’urban reforestation’’ in Comoros. Author of the floristic inventory, the vegetation mapping in Ngazidja Island and the study of mangroves in Comoros archipelago.
Founder of the Comoros National Herbarium and co-founder of the Geomatics Environment Biodiversity consultancy. National consultant and member of the Ecosystemic Accounting of Natural Capital (ENCA) Comoros team. National consultant on the delimitation of terrestrial protected areas. Promoter of the activity “I do my own vegetable garden ” and ‘’urban reforestation’’ in Comoros. Author of the floristic inventory, the vegetation mapping in Ngazidja Island and the study of mangroves in Comoros archipelago.
Founder of the Comoros National Herbarium and co-founder of the Geomatics Environment Biodiversity consultancy. National consultant and member of the Ecosystemic Accounting of Natural Capital (ENCA) Comoros team. National consultant on the delimitation of terrestrial protected areas. Promoter of the activity “I do my own vegetable garden ” and ‘’urban reforestation’’ in Comoros. Author of the floristic inventory, the vegetation mapping in Ngazidja Island and the study of mangroves in Comoros archipelago.
Founder of the Comoros National Herbarium and co-founder of the Geomatics Environment Biodiversity consultancy. National consultant and member of the Ecosystemic Accounting of Natural Capital (ENCA) Comoros team. National consultant on the delimitation of terrestrial protected areas. Promoter of the activity “I do my own vegetable garden ” and ‘’urban reforestation’’ in Comoros. Author of the floristic inventory, the vegetation mapping in Ngazidja Island and the study of mangroves in Comoros archipelago.
The mangroves of Mozambique occupy
an estimated area of 3054 km2. Mangroves
grow in protected coasts along the coast throughout the country. More than 50%
of the mangroves of the country are concentrated in central Mozambique in the
provinces of Sofala and Zambezia. In Mozambique, mangroves are threatened by a number
of factors, among which wood extraction, urban expansion, conversion to salt
pans and natural factors i.e., extreme weather events.
Mozambique approved its first mangrove management strategy 2020-2024, which is about to be revised. The strategy identifies a number of actions, including restoring degraded areas, developing local management plans and involving the community in management programs. Moreover, the government made a commitment to restore 5000 ha of mangrove by 2022.
Mangroves are managed by the Ministry of the Sea, Inland Waters and Fisheries (MIMAIP). However, a number of other authors are also involved: provincial delegations of the MIMAIP at the provincial level, SDAE and SDPI at District level, Municipal councils in cities and ANAC (National Administration of Conservation Areas) in conservation areas. Moreover, local communities are involved in mangrove management, particularly in most remote areas.
In 2019, Madagascar’s total mangrove area was estimated at 390,853 hectares (Ministère de l’Environnement et du Développement Durable, 2022). This area constitutes about 1.43% of the national forest cover. The mangrove coverage includes 131,872 hectares of dense mangroves, 122,339 hectares of degraded dense mangroves, and 136,639 hectares of scattered mangroves. Madagascar hosts eight mangrove species: Avicennia marina, Rhizophora mucronata, Bruguiera gymnorrhiza, Ceriops tagal, Sonneratia alba, Xylocarpus granatum, Lumnitzera racemosa, and Heritiera littoralis. The primary issue in Madagascar is the decline in mangrove areas. According to Shapiro (2019), the country experienced an annual loss of 1% to 1.52% over 30 years (from 1995 to 2018). The main causes of this decline are largely human-related, including the production of mangrove wood, illegal logging, land conversion for agriculture, shrimp farming, salt production, and hotel construction, as well as pollution, especially in urban areas. Additionally, climate change directly impacts the health of mangroves.
Madagascar has developed a National Strategy for mangrove management with a vision to manage, enhance, and restore mangroves as an emblematic national heritage. The strategy aims to provide ecosystem services for mitigating and adapting to climate change, drive the local economy, and sustainably preserve wildlife species and marine biodiversity. The national goal is to restore degraded sites and maintain the forest cover of 390,000 hectares of mangroves over the next ten years. The strategy is based on five (5) main guidelines: restoring the multifunctionality of mangroves; developing research and improving knowledge management on mangroves; enhancing the value of mangrove natural resources as natural capital; increased funding and development of partnerships to implement the action plan and improved institutional and local governance.
The Ministry of Environment and the Ministry of Fisheries hold the main jurisdiction over mangroves. However, other ministries are also involved, including those responsible for land planning and tourism. Various NGOs, private sector entities, and civil society organizations play key roles in mangrove management and restoration. However, the local communities are the primary stakeholders in these efforts.
Mangrove coverage in Mauritius is 181 ha (Republic of Mauritius, 2016). There are two species namely Rhizophora mucronata and Bruguiera gymnorrhiza.
Owing to a drastic decline before the 1990s, the Ministry responsible for Fisheries launched a Mangrove Propagation Programme in 1995 with the aim of restoring and rehabilitating denuded areas. Since the late 20th century mangrove forests have been legally protected in Mauritius, leading the way for the first mangrove restoration projects. As part of the restoration programme, the Ministry of Fisheries carried out sensitization campaigns to increase awareness and educate Owing to a drastic decline before the 1990s, the Ministry responsible for Fisheries launched a Mangrove Propagation Programme in 1995 with the aim of restoring and rehabilitating denuded areas. Since the late 20th century mangrove forests have been legally protected in Mauritius, leading the way for the first mangrove restoration projects. As part of the restoration programme, the Ministry of Fisheries carried out sensitization campaigns to increase awareness and educate fishermen, coastal dwellers and the public at large about the importance of this unique ecosystem. Many communities led or NGO led initiatives have since then shown interest in mangrove plantation and restoration and actions have had a positive impact on the mangrove cover area.
Founder of the Comoros National Herbarium and co-founder of the Geomatics Environment Biodiversity consultancy. National consultant and member of the Ecosystemic Accounting of Natural Capital (ENCA) Comoros team. National consultant on the delimitation of terrestrial protected areas. Promoter of the activity “I do my own vegetable garden ” and ‘’urban reforestation’’ in Comoros. Author of the floristic inventory, the vegetation mapping in Ngazidja Island and the study of mangroves in Comoros archipelago.
The mangroves are under anthropic pressure, with a surface area of 150 ha on the 3 islands. The most common pressures are deforestation and the dumping of household waste. 10% are naturally intact on all 3 Islands.
At national level, a campaign was launched in December 2022 by the Minister for the Environment, and projects such as GEF’s Green and Blue Impact, Ocean 5 and others are building capacity and raising awareness, but only in localities included in the marine protected areas, i.e., 16% of the mangroves on the Island of Ngazidja, 50% on the Island of Ndzuani and 100% on the Island of Moili. At community level, all sites with a local association plan to develop their mangroves as ecotourism sites.
The main players are the National Herbarium at the University of the Comoros, the Environment department, Marine protected areas and certain village associations
Somalia’s mangroves belong to the East African coast. In Somalia, mangroves are found in several main tidal estuaries along the Gulf of Aden and leading into the Indian Ocean. These locations include the area near the Saada Din Island around Zeyla’, Saba Wanak on the Gulf of Aden, and along this 50 km stretch of coastline where about 30 watercourses come close to or enter the sea, adding fresh water. Additionally, the extensive lagoon at Khoor Shoora, located to the east of Berbera, is another mangrove location. The mangrove spots continue to the east of Karin, and from Mait to Ras Kalwein, with a few more patches from Bosaso to Qandala, Alula, and Hurdiyo to Ras Hafuun. In the far south, close to the Kenyan border, the mangroves occur on the coast, along the chain of a dozen offshore islands of Somalia. The three major estuaries on the mainland include Bushbush, Aanole, and Lag-Badanaa, ranging from 30 to 45 km inland. Species of mangroves found in Somalia/Somaliland are mainly: Avicennia marina, Rhizophora mucronata, Ceriops somalensis, Bruguiera gymnorrhiza, Sonneratia alba, and Xylocarpus obovatus.
There is limited community action to protect and conserve mangrove forests. Global SDG-14 considers life below water and aquatic marine species, emphasizing the need for their protection and conservation.
There are many actors interested
in field conservation, including numerous NGOs, CBOs, and other international
organizations willing to engage in field activities. However, due to financial
challenges, there have been no interventions such as educational awareness and
community engagement.
Mangrove forests are the rarest forest type in South Africa. Six mangrove tree species are only found at one forest (Kosi Bay – KwaZulu Natal (KZN), border of Mozambique), with Avicennia marina, Bruguiera gynmorrhiza. Mangrove forests are the rarest forest type in South Africa. Six mangrove tree species are only found at one forest (Kosi Bay – KwaZulu Natal (KZN), border of Mozambique), with Avicennia marina, Bruguiera gynmorrhiza and Rhizophora mucronata occurring down the coastline to East London in the Eastern Cape (EC). The area of mangrove forest is increasing in South Africa both at the latitudinal limits and in specific estuaries such as Mhlathuze Estuary in KZN, a predominately open estuary with a large delta area. The area of mangroves is approximately 1672 ha. A large area of mangroves sits within the Simangalisa Wetland Park (Kosi Bay, St Lucia and Mfolozi) and is considered as protected. Harbours also host significant forests (Richards Bay and Durban Bay) and are not formally protected from harbour activities. There is a great diversity of disturbances along the eastern coast of South Africa where mangroves occur. These differ between KZN and the EC, where industrial, urbanisation, solid and chemical waste and eutrophication are prevalent in KZN. Cattle browsing, subsistence related harvesting and solid waste are prevalent in the Eastern Cape.
Mangrove conservation and management initiatives are limited in South Africa, where the emphasis is on managing the abiotic and biotic characteristics of estuaries and its habitats.
Local, provincial and national government are concerned with the management of estuaries not directly of mangroves. There may be some community level activities in the Eastern Cape related to beekeeping and harvesting of honey.
Founder of the Comoros National Herbarium and co-founder of the Geomatics Environment Biodiversity consultancy. National consultant and member of the Ecosystemic Accounting of Natural Capital (ENCA) Comoros team. National consultant on the delimitation of terrestrial protected areas. Promoter of the activity “I do my own vegetable garden ” and ‘’urban reforestation’’ in Comoros. Author of the floristic inventory, the vegetation mapping in Ngazidja Island and the study of mangroves in Comoros archipelago.
Founder of the Comoros National Herbarium and co-founder of the Geomatics Environment Biodiversity consultancy. National consultant and member of the Ecosystemic Accounting of Natural Capital (ENCA) Comoros team. National consultant on the delimitation of terrestrial protected areas. Promoter of the activity “I do my own vegetable garden ” and ‘’urban reforestation’’ in Comoros. Author of the floristic inventory, the vegetation mapping in Ngazidja Island and the study of mangroves in Comoros archipelago.
Founder of the Comoros National Herbarium and co-founder of the Geomatics Environment Biodiversity consultancy. National consultant and member of the Ecosystemic Accounting of Natural Capital (ENCA) Comoros team. National consultant on the delimitation of terrestrial protected areas. Promoter of the activity “I do my own vegetable garden ” and ‘’urban reforestation’’ in Comoros. Author of the floristic inventory, the vegetation mapping in Ngazidja Island and the study of mangroves in Comoros archipelago.
